edmonds



No. 749,779. PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904.

I T. 11. EDMONDS. ILLUMINATED SIGN 0R NUMBER PLATE FORAUTOMOBILE LAMPS;

APPLICATION FILED 0UT.23, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

THE Mourns FEYERS co. Pnmaumq, wunmmon. u. c.

; UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

lLLUMINATE D SIGN OR NUMBER PLATE FOR AUTOMOBILE- LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,779, dated January 19, 1904.

Application filed October 23, 1908.

T0 (LIZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs H. EDMoNDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVashington, in'the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Illuminated. Sign or Number Plates for Automobile-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a sign or number plate and an attaching and holding device adapted to be applied to lanterns or lamps for automobiles, carriages, bicycles, or other vehicles.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient device which may be readily attached to or detached from a lantern of a vehicle for displaying a number or a name by means of a White or red light.

In carrying out my invention I place the letters or numerals of the sign upon a plate of mica, glass, celluloid, or other transparent or translucent material, or I may cut the numerals or letters in a metal plate which will permit the light to shine through. I also use a sign or number plate having a central openin g for the light toshine through and with the numbers or letters on the plate adjacent to the opening. I also make the sign or number plate with an inner reflecting-surface. I

The matter constituting my invention herein will be set forth in the claims.

The details of construction of my improved device are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a lamp or lantern with a sign or number plate an d my attaching device applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a top plan View of one form of my attaching and holding device detached from the lantern. Fig. 3 represents a side view thereof. Fig. 4: represents a perspective view of a modification of the attaching and holding device. Fig. 5 represents adetail View showing a slight modification.

To the lantern A is secured the attaching and holding device B for supporting the sign or number plate C in front of the lantern, as shown in Fig. 1. The attaching and holding device B is preferably made of a suitable length of wire which is bent centrally to form receiving a holding-nut a.

Serial No, 178,236. (No model.)

At their forward ends the side wires (Z (Z are bent at right angles outward to form the laterally extending arms 0 c, and the extreme outer ends of said arms are bent upward to form the hooks ff, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The hooks f are for the purpose of engaging with holes 0, either in the frame or directly in the number-plate C. The outer ends of the arms instead of being bent upward to form the hooks f may be bent outward to form the projections f, as shown in Fig. 5, which projections may be screw-threaded for To the side wires d is applied the cross-brace g, which may be a wire bent at its ends around the wires 62. When the attaching and holding device B is applied to the lantern, the curved yoke d will embrace or partly encircle the neck a of the lantern, and then a screw-bolt it is inserted through the eyes 6 and a nut h screwed onto the threaded end, as shown in Fig. 2.

The side wires d of the device will rest upon the top of the door-frame or rim of the lantern and projectforward in front of the door a sulficient distance for supporting in front of the light the number-plate C. The numberplate C may be slid in the grooved guideways d in the frame I), which is provided at its top with holes c,with which are engaged the hooks f, as shown in Fig. 1. Holes 0 may be made directly in the number-plate C for engagement with the hooks f or with the outwardlybent and screw-threaded end f of the arms 12.

The number-plate C may be made of glass, mica, celluloid, or other transparent or translucent material and painted on one surface, so as to leave the numerals F plain and clear for transmitting the light of the lamp. In this case thepaint or other coating will be opaque. In case a metal number-plate C is used the numbers may be cut in the metal, the material being cut out to represent the numbers or letters and permit the light to shine through.

the cross-bar e'.

The letters or numbers may be of red glass or other material which will show a red light.

In the modified construction of my attaching and holding device B, Fig. 4, an enlarged yoke 12 is provided and so arranged as to partly encircle the body of the lantern just behind the door-frame, the wire being coiled at the ends or angles of the yoke to form the eyes 6 and then extended on both sides approximately at right angles to the yoke toform the supporting-arms d, which are bent at their outer ends to form the laterally-extending arms e", at the outer ends of which the wire is bent to form the engaging cross-bar e. In this construction the engaging hooks instead of being applied to the outer ends of the supporting-arms will be applied to the numberplate or its frame and caused to engage with It is within the spirit and scope of my invention to apply engaging hooks either at the outer ends of the supportingarms of the holding device or to the numberplate or itsframe. In either case my attaching and holding device serves to support the number-plate in front of the lamp, so that the numbers will be illuminated by the light. This modified construction of attaching and holding device is provided more particularly for lanterns or lamps which do not have a neck or chimney at the top. The yoke 12 having been adjusted to the body of the lantern just behind the door-frame, the screw-bolt k, such as shown in Fig. 2, will be passed through the eyes I) at the top of the lantern-body and secured in place by a nut.

My attaching and holding device can be quickly applied to a lamp or lantern and secured in place by the screw-bolt h and nut 72. and then the sign or number plate C hung upon the supporting-arms, as above described.v

This device is very convenient for application to the lamps of automobiles, carriages, and other vehicles and is quite effective for displaying the number of the vehicle at night.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination with a lamp or lantern, of an attaching and holding device constructed with an embracing-yoke, having eyes at its outer, ends, two outwardly-projecting arms having bent ends, and a sign or number plate having holes adapted to be engaged with said bent ends, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a lamp or lantern, of an attaching and holding device constructed with an embracing-yoke, having eyes at its outer ends, two outwardlyprojecting arms having bent ends, a securing-bolt and nut in the eyes, and a sign or number plate having holes adapted to be engaged with said bent ends, substantiallyas described.

3. In a devicefor holding an illuminated sign or number plate for lamps, an attaching and holding device, consisting of a Wire bent centrally to form an embracing-yoke, coiled or bent upon itself to form eyes at the angles of the yoke and recurved or folded on each side along the sides of the yoke to form supporting-arms, and said arms having their outer ends bent to engage with a sign or number plate, substantially as described.

t. The combination with a lamp or lantern, of an attaching and holding device constructed with a yoke adapted to embrace part of the lantern and having eyes for receiving a securing-bolt, two arms projecting outward beyond the eyes and having means at their outer ends for engaging With and supporting a sign or number plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOS. H. EDMONDS.

Witnesses:

E. B. CLARK, WILLARD H. MYERS. 

